Fun Run, football to add pomp to Sinulog festival

CEBU, Philippines - In a ground-breaking move, the Sinulog Foundation Inc. has included two sporting events - fun run and football - in its official lineup of activities to spice up the grand Sinulog festival.

The fun run, which will follow the Sinulog carousel route from the Cebu City Sports Center to P. Del Rosario, Imus Road, General Maxilom Avenue, Fuente Osmeña, and Osmeña Boulevard back to the CCSC, is scheduled on January 2.

The 5.7-kilometer race features the men and women's open and the 3K kiddies division for 12 years old and below fitness buffs.

Aside from medals, the champion in the men and women's open will take home P10,000 each, while the second and third will pocket P7,000 and P5,000, respectively. The fourth to fifth placers will receive P3,000 and P2,000, while the sixth to 10th will get P1,000 apiece.

The top finisher in the kiddies class will go home P5,000 richer, while the second and third will take away P4,000 and P3,000. The fourth and fifth will get P2,000 and P1,000, while the sixth to 10th will receive a consolation prize of P500 each.

Cash bounty will also be given away to the special awardees. The best in costume in both men and women's categories will receive P3,000, the best in costume for a running club with a minimum of 10 members will get P5,000, while the fastest running club will pocket P5,000.

As an added bonus, all the finishers will receive "I Love Sinulog' t-shirts and certificates.

Not only that, participants and spectators alike will be treated to exciting sidelights that include the elimination round for the Sinulog Best Dance Crew and the Sinulog Musicfest which is a band competition.

Registration fee is pegged at P300.

Sinulog Football

The Sinulog Football Cup, which is organized by the Cebu Amateur Football Club (CAFC) headed by Glen Quisido and Engr. Ricky Dakay, features eight categories:players 8 and 10, boys 12 and 14-under, boys and girls 17-under, men's open and 36 years old and above.

Each category will be divided into brackets to play a single round robin elimination. The top teams will advance into the semifinal and final rounds depending on the number of entries.

Regulation time will be 20 minutes per game with seven (7) players per side. Each team will have a maximum of 12 players.

Registration fee is pegged at P500 for the age-group and P1,000 for both the men's open and 36-above class.

To further drum up the twin events, Sinulog Foundation, Inc. executive director Ricky Ballesteros is calling for a press conference on December 16 at the conference room of the Cebu City Sports Center.

For more information, interested parties may contact 253-3700 and 254-5010 or visit www.sinulog.ph.